I don't think they should be legalised in the UK though, it's too late for that, now that the bigger cities, especially London, have no cultural identity to speak of, these places are a melting pot for all the fragmented groups (most peaceful, but some utterly demented), and so a natural hotspot for the world's criminals, made worse of course thanks to unchecked immigration spanning decades (most prolific under Blair's failed labour party)
I agree.
I can just imagine London if everyone were allowed to carry firearms. There'd be gang shootings all over the place. Not that I disagree with gangsters shooting each other: the more dead ones, the better.
I think the answer, whether or not we may arm ourselves, is just to avoid certain areas (in other large cities as well as London) and leave them to it.
With the break-down of society and the reduction in numbers of the police, Britain is becoming a two-level nation: many places are still very nice and civilised; others are effectively no-go areas. I'm afraid there's nothing that can be done about that now.
Having said that, I'd still like to right to possess a handgun provided it was kept completely in my home, and it should be legal to be able to use it for personal defence. If people are found carrying such weapons in the streets, however, they should be locked up for life. Needless to say, I believe that if they actually shot someone dead (outside of their own home) they should hang.